sws

Wednesday, October 3, 2012 3:55 AM

This is very sad, but wow talk about violating all safety rules. Pushing his way past two lifeguards. Plunging head first on a slide designed only for feet first descent. And they mentioned something about him trying to stand up on the slide. I'm not sure what that was about. To fall 60 feet and not be dead on arrival is lucky, although it states his injuries were critical. Even more fortunate is that no innocent bystanders were injured. I'm not trying to be unsympathetic but what was this guy thinking? "Police are investigating whether alcohol played a role." Ya think?

Jeph

First off, that's tragic, and this accident was clearly a result of the teen not following the rules.

However, I must admit, this type of slide has always made me uncomfortable, and I've always been a little perplexed by the design and why some parks still have them in this era of fool-proof safety.

They're admittedly very thrilling, but it's simply a slide where you must follow safety rules. It's an extremely steep drop directly off the platform with low-profile sides. If you even remained sitting upright when pushing off, it seems there'd be a chance you could tumble forward and free fall down the slide. If I had a water park, I wouldn't trust guests with anything but an enclosed tube for a drop that steep.

Ruling out suicide, I'm going to guess that this teen was trying to be a showy dare devil and go head first (pushing past the lifeguards since they wouldn't let him), but he quickly realized that he was going to tumble forward away from the slide, so he wasn't trying to stand up, but stop himself and turn the correct way in panic. But, it was obviously too late.

Anyway, as a kid at CP / KI, the steep drop slide (nearly identical to the one in this accident) would be the very only slide to make my heart pound in fear of tumbling forward or off the edges. When not following the rules, it looks like that fear has been confirmed. I've noticed Cedar Fair has replaced these at CP / KI.

JOz99

If you even remain sitting upright when pushing off, there's a chance you could tumble forward and free fall down the slide.

Is this an engineering fact, or your personal opinion?

I find it very hard to believe that with as many of these types of slides in service around the world, there's not a TON of engineering that goes into ensuring that what you suggest can't really happen.

LostKause

Wednesday, October 3, 2012 10:33 AM

I'm trying to imagine how he appeared to try to stand up if he started down the slide on his stomach. Did his feet flip over his back on the decent? Or did he really begin by going down the slide with his legs tucked under him against his chest? As morbid as it sounds, I really wish someone would have videoed the accident.

Teenagers are known to disregard their own safety for a thrill; to do things that are dangerous and not think of the consequences. I would think that by the age of 19, one would be over that already, so that's why I think that alcohol or some other drug was involved.

Incidents like this do not happen regularly on this kind of slide (I don't recall even one other than this) , so I hope that they are not removed form every water park in the country just because of the actions of this one stupid kid.

And one more thing... Didn't his mother ever teach him that cutting in line is not polite?

RPM

Wednesday, October 3, 2012 12:28 PM

Jeph said:

However, I must admit, this type of slide has always made me uncomfortable, ....

I have to agree. I don't have any proof that you are more likely to fall off of one of these slides comapred to say, slipping out of a roller coaster restraint. But just looking at them, it does appear more likely. I'll ride any coaster and most water slides, but this style of slide makes me very nervous.

Jeph

Wednesday, October 3, 2012 3:51 PM

JoZ, personal opinion, so maybe there was no real danger in that respect. I just remember KI lifeguards not saying much on any other slides, but them being strict about lying down, crossing ankles and crossing arms against chest on these slides. When you got to the top, it looked like you were just jumping off a cliff. Another freaky thing is that I believe on the double down version of these slides, I got a bit airborne.

Raven-Phile

Cropsey

Wednesday, October 3, 2012 4:47 PM

I don't see how someone could stand up on one of these either, but the reports are conflicting. Park says he went head first but witnesses say he was feet first. Possibly it looked like he was standing as he projected out or he actually ran onto the slide.

There will probably be a payout on this one. The Waterworld USA accident back in '97 where they kids all rushed the slide resulting in one death and several injuries resulted in settlements. The park actually installed emergency gates at the tops of the slides that an attendant can shut if a group tried it again.

These rides aren't dangerous if following directions. Unfortunately it seems the parks are expected to protect people from themselves.

ApolloAndy

RCMAC

Wednesday, October 3, 2012 10:53 PM

Once at the old Geauga Lake waterpark I saw a girl get tripped up somehow on the way down and she basically did cartwheels for the remainder of her ride. She stayed in, miraculously, and walked away ok but it was frightening to see. And to this day I don't trust those straight down drop slides.Despite whatever warnings are present it's instinctual for some to uncross their ankles in a momentary panic and reach for the sides of the slide. I thinks that's what happened to her, hard tellin' what happened to this guy.

blasterboy6500

Monday, October 8, 2012 10:20 AM

At the age of 19, I would expect a little more than his "teenage" instincts. I admit that that slide really scares the heck out of me, and I really don't go on it that often. Nonetheless this is tragic, but it wouldn't have happened if the guy was a little more mature. Just be thankful he didn't take a 5-year old down with him.

bunky666

Tuesday, October 9, 2012 1:32 AM

Actually, I was half kidding about that (I can't really be that mean), but in all seriousness, what did this guy think was gonna happen? I do hope he ends up okay and not another statistic related to amusement park stupidity.

Jeph, these kinds of slides make me super nervous as well. As a rule, I don't really do a lot of slides because they ALL make me a little nervous, but the drop slides just look like danger, period. I know there haven't been many problems with them, but...*shiver* I am actually surprised there HAVEN'T been more problems with them.